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Bending Spoons IPO: Acquirer of AOL and Vimeo Goes Public

Milan-based Bending Spoons went public on the Nasdaq in early July 2026, briefly reaching a market capitalization above $25 billion, roughly double its prior private valuation. The company has built a portfolio of well-known digital brands — including Vimeo, AOL, Meetup, Eventbrite and WeTransfer — and reported $1.31 billion in revenue for 2025. Bending Spoons pursues an acquisition-led growth strategy described as PE-like but with an intention to hold and transform assets, often applying tech and AI alongside pricing and headcount changes that have drawn criticism. As of March 2026 the group said its portfolio served over 500 million monthly active users and more than 9 million monthly paying customers. Founders retain control of voting power and the company signals continued acquisitiveness backed by substantial operational centralization.

Bending Spoons IPO Valued Above $18B

Bending Spoons, the 13-year-old Milan-headquartered acquirer of consumer internet brands, went public on the Nasdaq on July 1, 2026 with an opening valuation above $18 billion and a roughly 40% intraday stock increase. The company has pursued a buy-and-operate strategy—acquiring properties such as Meetup, Eventbrite, Vimeo, WeTransfer and Evernote—and emphasizes operational rigor, data-driven experimentation and AI to accelerate feature development and revenue growth. Its SEC F-1 highlights an AI-first history and states revenue per full-time employee rose materially between 2023 and 2025. Founders include Matteo Danieli (co-founder & CPO), Luca Ferrari, Francesco Patarnello and Luca Querella.

Bending Spoons IPO Surges 40% on Market Debut

Bending Spoons, a 13-year-old Milan-based company that acquires and revitalizes once-popular tech brands, saw its shares jump nearly 40% on their first trading day, closing at $40.50 vs. a $29 IPO price. The listing values the firm at about $25.7 billion — more than double its last private valuation of $11 billion — after raising $1.68 billion. Disclosed financials show a rapid turnaround: Q1 revenue of $601 million and $27.4 million net income, versus a year-ago $112 million net loss on $259 million revenue. The company generates the majority of revenue from subscriptions (84% last year) and holds well-known assets such as AOL, Eventbrite, Evernote, Meetup and Vimeo. Major outside shareholders before the IPO included Baillie Gifford and several institutional investors.